Cooling system for a control panel of an oven appliance

ABSTRACT

A control panel assembly for an oven appliance includes an external housing and an internal housing spaced apart to define an air plenum. A display assembly is positioned in a top opening in the external housing and a cooling port is defined between a cooktop of the oven appliance and the display assembly. A fan assembly is positioned within the air plenum for drawing a flow of cooling air in through an ambient port and urging the flow of cooling air through the cooling port to create an air curtain that cools the display assembly.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present subject matter relates generally to oven appliances, and more particularly, to systems for cooling control panels of oven appliances.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Conventional residential and commercial oven appliances generally include a cabinet that includes a cooking chamber for receipt of food items for cooking. Multiple heating elements are positioned within the cooking chamber to provide heat to food items located therein. The heating elements can include, for example, radiant heating elements, such as a bake heating assembly positioned at a bottom of the cooking chamber and/or a separate broiler heating assembly positioned at a top of the cooking chamber. In addition, conventional oven appliances include a cooktop positioned on a top of the appliance that includes one or more heating elements, such as electric heaters, gas burners, or induction heating elements.

Conventional ovens also frequently include a control panel that includes a display, indicator lights, buttons for regulating oven operation, and/or one or more control knobs for regulating the heat output of various heating elements. However, such control panels are often exposed to extreme heat from the heating elements that are mounted on the cooktop of the conventional oven. As a result, the control panel typically gets very hot, exposing the user to interactive surfaces that are too hot to touch. In addition, it is often desirable to have a display on the control panel, but these displays and other sensitive control electronics are often damaged by the high heat generated by the cooktop.

Accordingly, an oven appliance with an improved display and control interface is desirable. More particularly, a control interface including improved display assemblies that may be safely operated from a front of the oven appliance would be especially beneficial.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the following description, or may be apparent from the description, or may be learned through practice of the invention.

In one exemplary embodiment, an oven appliance defining a vertical direction, a lateral direction, and a transverse direction is provided. The oven appliance includes a cabinet defining a cooking chamber, a cooktop positioned at a top of the cabinet and comprising one or more heating elements, and a control panel assembly positioned adjacent the cooktop proximate a front of the cabinet along the transverse direction. The control panel assembly includes an external housing defining a top opening and an air plenum, a display assembly mounted in the top opening, a cooling port positioned between the cooktop and the display assembly along the transverse direction, and a fan assembly for urging a flow of air through the cooling port and across the display assembly.

In another exemplary embodiment, a control panel assembly for an oven appliance is provided. The oven appliance includes a cabinet defining a cooking chamber and a cooktop positioned on top of the cabinet and including a heating element. The control panel assembly includes an external housing defining a top opening and an air plenum, a display assembly mounted in the top opening, a cooling port positioned between the cooktop and the display assembly along a transverse direction, and a fan assembly for urging a flow of air through the cooling port and across the display assembly.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description and appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the best mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth in the specification, which makes reference to the appended figures.

FIG. 1 provides a front perspective view of a cooking appliance according to an exemplary embodiment of the present subject matter.

FIG. 2 provides a side cross-sectional view of the exemplary cooking appliance of FIG. 1 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present subject matter.

FIG. 3 provides a close-up cross-sectional view of the exemplary cooking appliance of FIG. 1 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present subject matter.

FIG. 4 provides a side schematic view of a control panel assembly of the exemplary cooking appliance of FIG. 1 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present subject matter.

FIG. 5 provides a side schematic view of a control panel assembly of the exemplary cooking appliance of FIG. 1 according to another exemplary embodiment of the present subject matter.

FIG. 6 provides a side schematic view of a control panel assembly of the exemplary cooking appliance of FIG. 1 according to another exemplary embodiment of the present subject matter.

Repeat use of reference characters in the present specification and drawings is intended to represent the same or analogous features or elements of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference now will be made in detail to embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, not limitation of the invention. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

As used herein, terms of approximation, such as “approximately,” “substantially,” or “about,” refer to being within a ten percent (10%) margin of error of the stated value. Moreover, as used herein, the terms “first,” “second,” and “third” may be used interchangeably to distinguish one component from another and are not intended to signify location or importance of the individual components.

FIG. 1 provides a front, perspective view of an oven appliance 100 as may be employed with the present subject matter. Oven appliance 100 generally defines a vertical direction V, a lateral direction L, and a transverse direction T, each of which is mutually perpendicular, such that an orthogonal coordinate system is generally defined. As illustrated, oven appliance 100 includes an insulated cabinet 102. Cabinet 102 of oven appliance 100 extends between a top 104 and a bottom 106 along the vertical direction V, between a first side 108 (left side when viewed from front) and a second side 110 (right side when viewed from front) along the lateral direction L, and between a front 112 and a rear 114 along the transverse direction T.

Within cabinet 102 is a single cooking chamber 120 which is configured for the receipt of one or more food items to be cooked. However, it should be appreciated that oven appliance 100 is provided by way of example only, and aspects of the present subject matter may be used in any suitable cooking appliance, such as a double oven range appliance. Thus, the example embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is not intended to limit the present subject matter to any particular cooking chamber configuration or arrangement. Indeed, aspects of the present subject matter may be applied to display assemblies for any suitable appliance.

Oven appliance 100 includes a door 124 rotatably attached to cabinet 102 in order to permit selective access to cooking chamber 120. Handle 126 is mounted to door 124 to assist a user with opening and closing door 124 in order to access cooking chamber 120. As an example, a user can pull on handle 126 mounted to door 124 to open or close door 124 and access cooking chamber 120. One or more transparent viewing windows 128 (FIG. 1) may be defined within door 124 to provide for viewing the contents of cooking chamber 120 when door 124 is closed and also assist with insulating cooking chamber 120.

In general, cooking chamber 120 is defined by a plurality of chamber walls 130 (FIG. 3). Specifically, cooking chamber 120 may be defined by a top wall, a rear wall, a bottom wall, and two sidewalls 130. These chamber walls 130 may be joined together to define an opening through which a user may selectively access cooking chamber 120 by opening door 124. In order to insulate cooking chamber 120, oven appliance 100 includes an insulating gap defined between the chamber walls 130 and cabinet 102. According to an exemplary embodiment, the insulation gap is filled with an insulating material 132, such as insulating foam or fiberglass, for insulating cooking chamber 120.

Oven appliance 100 also includes a cooktop 140. Cooktop 140 is positioned at or adjacent top 104 of cabinet 102 such that it is positioned above cooking chamber 120. Specifically, cooktop 140 includes a top panel 142 positioned proximate top 104 of cabinet 102. By way of example, top panel 142 may be constructed of glass, ceramics, enameled steel, and combinations thereof. One or more grates 144 are supported on a top surface of top panel 142 for supporting cooking utensils, such as pots or pans, during a cooking process.

Oven appliance 100 may further include one or more heating elements (identified generally by reference numeral 150) for selectively heating cooking utensils positioned on grates 144 or food items positioned within cooking chamber 120. For example, referring to FIG. 1, heating elements 150 may be gas burners 150. Specifically, a plurality of gas burners 150 are mounted within or on top of top panel 142 underneath grates 144 that supports cooking utensils over the gas burners 150 while gas burners 150 provide thermal energy to cooking utensils positioned thereon, e.g., to heat food and/or cooking liquids (e.g., oil, water, etc.). Gas burners 150 can be configured in various sizes so as to provide e.g., for the receipt of cooking utensils (i.e., pots, pans, etc.) of various sizes and configurations and to provide different heat inputs for such cooking utensils. According to alternative embodiments, oven appliance 100 may have other cooktop configurations or burner elements.

In addition, heating elements 150 may be positioned within or may otherwise be in thermal communication with cooking chamber 120 for regulating the temperature within cooking chamber 120. Specifically, an upper gas heating element 154 (also referred to as a broil heating element or gas burner) may be positioned in cabinet 102, e.g., at a top portion of cooking chamber 120, and a lower gas heating element 156 (also referred to as a bake heating element or gas burner) may be positioned at a bottom portion of cooking chamber 120. Upper gas heating element 154 and lower gas heating element 156 may be used independently or simultaneously to heat cooking chamber 120, perform a baking or broil operation, perform a cleaning cycle, etc. The size and heat output of gas heating elements 154, 156 can be selected based on the, e.g., the size of oven appliance 100 or the desired heat output. Oven appliance 100 may include any other suitable number, type, and configuration of heating elements 150 within cabinet 102 and/or on cooktop 140. For example, oven appliance 100 may further include electric heating elements, induction heating elements, or any other suitable heat generating device.

A control panel assembly 160 is located within convenient reach of a user of the oven appliance 100. For this example embodiment, control panel assembly 160 is positioned at a top 104 and front 112 of cabinet 102, e.g., above door 124 along the vertical direction V and forward of cooktop 140 along the transverse direction T. Control panel assembly 160 includes knobs 162 that are each associated with one of heating elements 150. In this manner, knobs 162 allow the user to activate each heating element 150 and determine the amount of heat input provided by each heating element 150 for cooking food items within cooking chamber 120 or on cooktop 140. Although shown with knobs 162, it should be understood that knobs 162 and the configuration of oven appliance 100 shown in FIG. 1 is provided by way of example only. More specifically, control panel assembly 160 may include various input components, such as one or more of a variety of touch-type controls, electrical, mechanical or electro-mechanical input devices including rotary dials, push buttons, and touch pads. Control panel assembly 160 may also be provided with one or more graphical display devices or display components, such as a digital or analog display device designed to provide operational feedback or other information to the user such as e.g., whether a particular heating element 150 is activated and/or the rate at which the heating element 150 is set. Indeed, according to the illustrated embodiment, control panel assembly 160 includes a display assembly 164, such as a liquid crystal display with an interactive display and interface.

Generally, oven appliance 100 may include a controller 166 in operative communication with control panel assembly 160. Control panel assembly 160 of oven appliance 100 may be in communication with controller 166 via, for example, one or more signal lines or shared communication busses, and signals generated in controller 166 operate oven appliance 100 in response to user input via user input devices, e.g., control knobs 162 and/or display assembly 164. Input/Output (“I/O”) signals may be routed between controller 166 and various operational components of oven appliance 100 such that operation of oven appliance 100 can be regulated by controller 166. In addition, controller 166 may also be communication with one or more sensors, such as temperature sensor 168 (FIG. 3), which may be used to measure temperature inside cooking chamber 120 and provide such measurements to the controller 166. Although temperature sensor 168 is illustrated at a top and rear of cooking chamber 120, it should be appreciated that other sensor types, positions, and configurations may be used according to alternative embodiments.

Controller 166 is a “processing device” or “controller” and may be embodied as described herein. Controller 166 may include a memory and one or more microprocessors, microcontrollers, application-specific integrated circuits (ASICS), CPUs or the like, such as general or special purpose microprocessors operable to execute programming instructions or micro-control code associated with operation of oven appliance 100, and controller 166 is not restricted necessarily to a single element. The memory may represent random access memory such as DRAM, or read only memory such as ROM, electrically erasable, programmable read only memory (EEPROM), or FLASH. In one embodiment, the processor executes programming instructions stored in memory. The memory may be a separate component from the processor or may be included onboard within the processor. Alternatively, controller 166 may be constructed without using a microprocessor, e.g., using a combination of discrete analog and/or digital logic circuitry (such as switches, amplifiers, integrators, comparators, flip-flops, AND gates, and the like) to perform control functionality instead of relying upon software.

Although aspects of the present subject matter are described herein in the context of a single oven appliance, it should be appreciated that oven appliance 100 is provided by way of example only. Other oven or range appliances having different configurations, different appearances, and/or different features may also be utilized with the present subject matter, e.g., double ovens, standalone cooktops, etc.

Referring now generally to FIGS. 1 through 6, control panel assembly 160 will be described according to exemplary embodiments of the present subject matter. Although several embodiments are described, like reference numerals may be used to refer to the same or similar features among embodiments. Although control panel assembly 160 is described herein as being used with oven appliance 100, it should be appreciated that aspects of the present subject matter may be applied to any other suitable appliance where an interactive and heat resistant display is desirable. Control panel assembly 160 may have other configurations and may be used in other manners while remaining within the scope of the present subject matter.

As best shown in FIG. 1, control panel assembly 160 is generally mounted in a top, front corner of oven appliance 100. Specifically, control panel assembly 160 is mounted above the door 124 along the vertical direction V and in front of cooktop 140 along the transverse direction T. Moreover, display assembly 164 is generally mounted to a top surface 180 of control panel assembly 160. As a result, display assembly 164 is commonly exposed to high heat levels due to its proximity with heating elements 150 on cooktop 140. Notably, display assembly 164 may be damaged if exposed to extreme heat commonly experienced at such a location. In addition, top surface 180 of control panel assembly 160 is commonly contacted by a user of oven appliance 100, such that failure to mitigate the high heat load present may result in dangerous operating conditions. As a result, aspects of the present subject matter are directed to systems and methods for reducing the temperature of top surface 180 of control panel assembly 160, as well as control panel assembly 160 as a whole.

According to the illustrated exemplary embodiment, control panel assembly 160 includes an external housing 182 and an internal housing 184 that are spaced apart from each other to define an air plenum 186. Although external housing 182 and internal housing 184 are described herein as being two separate pieces, it should be appreciated that according to exemplary embodiments, one or more than two pieces may be used to form the housing of control panel assembly 160. As illustrated, external housing 182 has top surface 180 which is generally oriented to face upward along the vertical direction V (e.g., extending in a horizontal plane). In addition, external housing 182 may define a front surface 188 that faces forward along the transverse direction T, e.g., toward a user. According to the illustrated embodiment, control knobs 162 may be mounted to front surface 188 while display assembly 164 is mounted to top surface 180. Specifically, top surface 180 of external housing 182 may define a top opening 190 that is generally sized and configured for receiving display assembly 164.

Notably, as explained briefly above, display assembly 164 may generally be an interactive interface through which a user may interact with and control oven appliance 100. In this regard, display assembly 164 may be a liquid crystal display (“LCD”) that acts as both a display for providing information to a user of appliance as well as providing an interactive touch screen or touch sensitive surface through which a user may provide feedback or operating commands. Notably, LCD displays may be damaged, discolored, or otherwise experience performance degradation if exposed to extreme heat. This heat load experienced by display assembly 164 is reduced using aspects of the present subject matter. Although the exemplary embodiment illustrates an LCD display assembly 164, it should be appreciated that other displays having other positions, orientations, and configurations may be used while remaining within the scope of the present subject matter.

As shown, display assembly 164 is mounted directly into top opening 190. For example, display assembly 164 may be seated on a mounting bracket 192. It should be appreciated that mounting bracket, controller 166, and other control electronics 194 may be positioned with in control panel assembly 160, e.g., within air plenum 186. Due to its proximity with cooking chamber 120 and cooktop 140, control panel assembly 160 and air plenum 186 are commonly exposed to very high temperatures. In order to reduce these temperatures, extend the lifetime of control panel assembly 160, and improve operation of display assembly 164, control panel assembly 160 may include features for urging a flow of cooling air (e.g., identified herein generally by reference numeral 196) through air plenum 186. In addition, or alternatively, this flow of cooling air 196 may be urged across top surface 180 of external housing 182, as described in further detail below.

Specifically, according to the illustrated embodiment, control panel assembly 160 may include a cooling port 200 that is generally configured for urging the flow of cooling air 196 across top surface 180 and display assembly 164. In this manner, a surface temperature of top surface 180 and display assembly 164 may be reduced along with the internal temperature of air plenum 186. Specifically, according to the illustrated embodiment, cooling port 200 is positioned between display assembly 164 and cooktop 140 along the transverse direction T. Cooling port 200 may also extend along a width of oven appliance 100 in the lateral direction L. However, although cooling port 200 is illustrated herein as an elongated slot extending the entire width of oven appliance 100, it should be appreciated that according to alternative embodiments, cooling port 200 may include one or more apertures positioned at any suitable location for directing the flow of cooling air 196 to reduce the temperatures experienced by control panel assembly 160.

Control panel assembly 160 may further include a fan assembly 202 for urging the flow of cooling air 196 through cooling port 200 and across display assembly 164. Specifically, according to the illustrated embodiment, the fan assembly 202 includes one or more axial fans 204 for urging the flow of cooling air 196. Although a single axial fan 204 is illustrated, it should be appreciated the fan assembly 202 may include any other suitable number, type, and configuration of fans, air blowers, air handlers, etc. It should be appreciated that the flow of cooling air 196 may be either drawn into cooling port 200 or discharged from cooling port 200. According to an exemplary embodiment, control panel assembly 160 may further be in fluid communication with an ambient port 206 that is generally configured for completing flow path between cooling port 200 and an ambient environment 208 (e.g., outside of oven appliance 100 or cabinet 102). Ambient air, which has a lower temperature than air within control panel assembly 160, may be drawn in from ambient environment 208 to cool control panel assembly 160.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, ambient port 206 is defined in external housing 182. More specifically, ambient port 206 may be defined in front surface 188 of external housing 182, e.g., below control knobs 162 (e.g., as shown in FIG. 4). According to another embodiment, ambient port 206 may be defined in a bottom face 210 of external housing 182 (e.g., as shown in FIG. 5), e.g., such that ambient port 206 is not visible to a user standing in front of oven appliance 100. So positioned, ambient port 206 may be used to draw flow of cooling air 196 into air plenum 186 from a gap defined between control panel assembly 160 and door 124 along the vertical direction V. According to still other embodiments, ambient port 206 may be positioned at any other suitable location within oven appliance 100.

For example, according to the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6, ambient port 206 may be a rear port 220 positioned proximate rear 114 of cabinet 102. According to such an embodiment, ambient port 206 may be fluidly coupled to cooling port 200 using a cooling duct 222, which may at least partially form air plenum 186 within control panel assembly 160. In addition, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, axial fan 204 is positioned within cooling duct 222 proximate rear port 220, thereby reducing noise proximate a user of oven appliance 100. Furthermore, cooling duct 222 may extend all the way to front 112 of oven appliance 100 before turning back along the transverse direction T toward rear 114 of oven appliance 100 and discharging through cooling port 200. In this manner, the flow of cooling air 196 is drawn directly across a bottom face 224 of display assembly 164.

According to exemplary embodiments, cooling port 200 may be defined at least in part by an air deflector 230 that is generally configured for directing the flow of cooling air 196 close to or directly across a top face 232 of display assembly 164. In this manner, temperatures experienced by display assembly 164 may be maintained at a suitably low temperature to prevent performance degradation or component damage. According to the illustrated embodiment, air deflector 230 generally extends upward along the vertical direction V beyond top panel 142 and then extends forward along the transverse direction T toward display assembly 164. In other words, air deflector 230 may be an L-shaped bracket 234 is fastened to a rear of external housing 182 using a mechanical fastener 236 (e.g., as shown in FIG. 4). According still other embodiments, air deflector 230 may be defined at least partially by grate 144 that is positioned on cooktop 140 (e.g., as shown in FIG. 5). It should be appreciated that other structures for directing the flow of cooling air 196 through cooling port 200 are possible and within the scope of the present subject matter.

This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they include structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An oven appliance defining a vertical direction, a lateral direction, and a transverse direction, the oven appliance comprising: a cabinet defining a cooking chamber; a cooktop positioned at a top of the cabinet and comprising one or more heating elements; and a control panel assembly positioned adjacent the cooktop proximate a front of the cabinet along the transverse direction, the control panel assembly comprising: an external housing defining a top opening and an air plenum; a display assembly mounted in the top opening; a cooling port positioned between the cooktop and the display assembly along the transverse direction; and a fan assembly for urging a flow of air through the cooling port and across the display assembly.
 2. The oven appliance of claim 1, wherein the control panel assembly further comprises: an internal housing spaced apart from the external housing to define the air plenum; and an ambient port defined within the external housing or the internal housing, wherein the fan assembly is mounted within the air plenum for urging the flow of air through the ambient port and the cooling port.
 3. The oven appliance of claim 2, wherein the ambient port is defined on a front surface of the external housing.
 4. The oven appliance of claim 2, further comprising: a door pivotally mounted to the cabinet to provide selective access to the cooking chamber, wherein the ambient port is positioned in a bottom face of the external housing above the door when the door is in the closed position.
 5. The oven appliance of claim 1, further comprising: an air deflector that at least partially defines the cooling port, the air deflector extending toward the display assembly along the transverse direction to direct the flow of air across a top surface of the display assembly.
 6. The oven appliance of claim 5, wherein the air deflector is defined by a grate positioned on the cooktop.
 7. The oven appliance of claim 5, wherein the air deflector is an L-shaped bracket fastened to a rear of the external housing using a mechanical fastener.
 8. The oven appliance of claim 1, wherein a bottom surface of the display assembly is positioned within the air plenum.
 9. The oven appliance of claim 1, further comprising: control electronics positioned within the air plenum.
 10. The oven appliance of claim 1, further comprising: one or more control knobs mounted on a front surface of the external housing.
 11. The oven appliance of claim 1, further comprising: a cooling duct providing fluid communication between a rear port defined proximate a rear of cabinet and the cooling port, wherein the fan assembly is mounted within the cooling duct.
 12. The oven appliance of claim 11, wherein the cooling duct passes over a bottom surface of the display assembly.
 13. The oven appliance of claim 1, wherein the flow of air is discharged from the air plenum through the cooling port.
 14. The oven appliance of claim 1, wherein the flow of air is drawn into the air plenum through the cooling port.
 15. The oven appliance of claim 1, wherein the display assembly is a liquid crystal display with a top surface oriented in the vertical direction.
 16. The oven appliance of claim 1, wherein the fan assembly comprises one or more axial fans mounted over an ambient port.
 17. A control panel assembly for an oven appliance, the oven appliance comprising a cabinet defining a cooking chamber and a cooktop positioned on top of the cabinet and comprising a heating element, the control panel assembly comprising: an external housing defining a top opening and an air plenum; a display assembly mounted in the top opening; a cooling port positioned between the cooktop and the display assembly along a transverse direction; and a fan assembly for urging a flow of air through the cooling port and across the display assembly.
 18. The control panel assembly of claim 17, further comprising: an internal housing spaced apart from the external housing to define the air plenum; and an ambient port defined within the external housing or the internal housing, wherein the fan assembly is mounted within the air plenum for urging the flow of air through the ambient port and the cooling port.
 19. The control panel assembly of claim 17, further comprising: an air deflector that at least partially defines the cooling port, the air deflector extending toward the display assembly along the transverse direction to direct the flow of air across a top surface of the display assembly.
 20. The control panel assembly of claim 17, further comprising: a cooling duct providing fluid communication between a rear port defined proximate a rear of cabinet and the cooling port, wherein the fan assembly is mounted within the cooling duct. 